How Long Does It Take to Break an Addiction?

Addiction recovery takes time. And when you first quit drugs or alcohol, you might want to speed through the process. Many people wonder, “How long does it take to break an addiction?”

There’s no way to determine precisely how long recovery will take. That’s because this process looks different for everyone. And many factors—like your lifestyle, genetics, and physical health—affect how quickly you can break an addiction. 

Does It Take 21 Days to Stop an Addiction?

You may have heard it takes 21 days to form or change a habit.¹ That just isn’t true. But where did this myth come from? It all started with a misunderstanding of Dr. Maxwell Maltz’s research.

Dr. Maltz, a writer and plastic surgeon, described this timeline in his 1960 book Psycho-Cybernetics. But he wasn’t talking about behavior at all. Instead, he made the point that it takes at least 21 days for self-image to change. 

He explained that after about 21 days, his patients could let go of their mental images before surgery and accept their new look. Readers widely misinterpreted his work, perhaps out of wishful thinking. Today, this myth is so widespread that many people think it’s a fact. 

Why It Can Take at Least 90 Days of Treatment

Addiction is complex. There’s no simple answer to questions like “How many days does it take to break an addiction?” That number could go up if you have additional health problems and require medical care. On the other hand, it could go down if you attend a recovery program that meets your needs perfectly. 

However, some experts believe there is a bare minimum: 90 days of treatment.

90 Days of Treatment or More

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), attending treatment for at least 90 days yields the best outcomes.²

But 90 days isn’t always enough. Different substances have various treatment minimums ranging from months to years. For example, if you’re healing from opioid addiction, NIDA recommends at least 12 months of treatment.

Addiction and the Brain

Over time, excessive drug or alcohol use changes your neurochemistry.³ Substance use disorder impacts your brain’s prefrontal cortex, which governs decision-making and impulse control. So the more you take drugs, the less self-control you have. And the less self-control you have, the harder it becomes to quit. 

In recovery, your brain can take a while to heal fully. You might continue to have cravings for a long time after detox. In rehab, you’ll learn how to manage those feelings while you keep moving toward your recovery goals. 

Forming New Habits

Addiction recovery might start with quitting drugs and alcohol, but it doesn’t end there. You’ll also find new ways to fill your time while sober. You might develop coping skills, try new activities, or return to hobbies you love. With practice, you can learn to meet your emotional needs without abusing drugs.

Data suggests that it takes 66 days to build a new habit.⁴ For example, imagine that you start doing yoga every morning in rehab. According to research, it should take just over 2 months for that behavior to become automatic. Eventually, you’ll be able to get up and do yoga without even thinking about it, the same way you might drink coffee or brush your teeth. 

This timeline doesn’t change how long it takes to break old habits. You might experience cravings long after your yoga practice becomes routine. And some people take a longer time to make these changes. For example, ADHD affects the way you form habits.⁵ If you have that diagnosis, you may need more time to solidify new coping skills.